Critics of HB2 say that it threatens $4.5 billion in annual federal education funding that comes to North Carolina to support education programs at various levels.

Fact Check: McCrory's "Myths vs Facts" email on HB2
"The legislation also forces transgender students in public schools to use restrooms and other facilities inconsistent with their gender identity, putting $4.5 billion dollars in federal funding under Title IX at risk," a letter from business leaders presented to the governor Thursday reads. Other news releases from organizations such as the ACLU have repeated that claim, stating "The law also violates Title IX by discriminating against students and school employees on the basis of sex."

THE QUESTION: Does House Bill 2 threaten the flow federal education funding to North Carolina?

SUMMARY JUDGMENT: This claim is overstated. It is uncertain that courts will hold that Title IX applies to gender identity. Local school officials say they have not identified any immediate impact.

BACKGROUND: For those who haven't been following the issue, House Bill 2 is the measure passed earlier this month in reaction to Charlotte's transgender nondiscrimination ordinance. While there are many points of contention over what the law does and does not do, we are concerned with the provision that specifies, "public agencies shall require every multiple occupancy bathroom or changing facility to be designated for and only used by persons based on their biological sex." In North Carolina, public agencies include the state's university system, community college system and K-12 public schools. "Biological sex" is defined as how an individual is listed on their birth certificate.

The newly passed law prevents a student who, for example, was born a male but currently looks like, dresses like and acts like a girl or woman from using the girl's locker room or bathroom. However, the newly drafted state law does not prohibit school districts from offering separate changing and toilet facilities for transgender students.

Title IX is a federal law, passed by Congress in 1972, that prohibits educational institutions receiving federal funding for treating people differently based on sex. "Some key issue areas in which recipients have Title IX obligations are: recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment," according to the U.S. Department of Education. Many people are familiar with Title IX due to its requirement that universities offer the same number of competitive athletic opportunities for men and women.

As has been the case in North Carolina, that Virginia case pitted the interest of transgender individuals in being treated equitably versus the concerns of parents and public officials who worried that the policy could open the door to predators or be upsetting to other students.

It is widely expected that the eventual outcome of G.G. vs Gloucester County will determine whether that interpretation can stand.

IN NORTH CAROLINA: Education officials in North Carolina are still assessing what, if any, impact HB 2 will have.

Vanessa Jeter, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Instruction, said her agency isn't involved in a review of the policy and as of yet has not received notice from the federal government that any problems were imminent. Similarly, Wake County Public Schools officials say they are still reviewing what, if any, impact HB 2 will have on their system, including their ability to draw down federal funding.

"The Title IX issue is complicated and we’re reviewing it," said Bruce Mildwurf, a lobbyist with the N.C. School Boards Association, adding his group hasn't issued any guidance to school districts.

Higher education leaders are also stepping carefully with regards to the matter.

"This legislation has raised many questions for our campus community for which we’re seeking answers," UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol Folt wrote to faculty and staff this week.

ARGUMENTS: Perhaps the strongest evidence that school funding could be at risk are instances from other states such as Illinois and California, where the federal government threatened action based on Title IX and the treatment of transgender individuals. In both those cases the schools settled before the case went to court.

That said, when Title IX was written in 1972, it did not specifically deal with transgender issues, so it's unclear if courts will ultimately hold it applies. The Virginia case will be the first major test in court.

"We are not sure at all because there has been no definitive court ruling on this," said Jane Wettach, a professor with Duke University Law School specializing in education issues. "The administration is charged with interpreting the law, and it's currently interpreting the law in this way. But the district court judge in the Virginia rejected the Justice Department's and Department of Education's view."

Opponents of House Bill 2 note that a single judge in Virginia does not set precedent for North Carolina.

"That judge's opinion is not governing law in North Carolina," Chris Brook, Legal Director of the ACLU of North Carolina. "The federal Department of Education has interpreted Title IX's prohibition on sex discrimination to include discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression. That interpretation is the governing law in North Carolina today."

"Neither the Department of Justice nor Department of Education really take away money very quickly or very often," Wettach said. "The money is certainly not immediately at risk."

However, she said, if the Fourth Circuit case is eventually decided in the student's favor, or a Democratic administration replaces Obama's, North Carolina could be facing pressure to change the policies set forth under House Bill 2.

The idea that HB2 posses a certain or immediate threat to funding is specious. Any move to withdraw funding from the state would be part of what is typically a lengthy process and could be derailed by what the Fourth Circuit, or eventually the Supreme Court, says with regard to Title IX policy.

However, there is certainly room to make the argument that HB2 eventually could have an impact on federal funding. The Obama administration's actions with regard to Title IX and transgender policy in other states save the claims related to HB2 and Title IX from running a red, but they do get a yellow light on our fact checking scale.

Jacob SmirnovApr 3, 2016

I have done extensive research on Wikipedia about transgender, gender expression, etc. For all the problems the developed world (America and the European Union, Australia, etc.) face, such as high unemployment and a shrinking middle class, it's troublesome to see so much energy and money devoted to how one chooses to identify oneself.

Much of the increasing cost of higher education can be contributed to this wasteful expense on gender, racial and class identity. There are entire departments devoted to Women's Studies, Gender Studies, Pan-African/Asian Studies, Departments of Social Change and more. All of these institutions are preparing young people not to solving social problems, but to CREATE SOCIAL PROBLEMS, to BECOME THE PROBLEM, and increase divisiveness.

Max SmirennyApr 1, 2016

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Sure, but how is gender defined? Research has found similarities between transgender women's brains and cisgender women's brains. Some people with XY chromosomes have female reproductive parts... so, how is gender determined?

Is is unreasonable to send someone who identifies as male into a women's restroom. Think someone tatted up and with a beard is going to be safe in a women's restroom? This isn't a hypothetical like the "well, what if a man just puts on a dress". People are beaten trying to relieve themselves. Some have been killed just for looking "funny". That's the something that is unreasonable.

The majority doesn't dictate the rights of a minority, at least the last time I checked the Constitution.

Regarding the actual issue - Title IX - we're going to have to wait to see how the VA case plays out. Regardless of the outcome, this issue is going to take many years to sort out. Liberty usually wins over irrational fears...

— Posted by Fanny Chmelar

So lets keep to science and biology. My statement stands, there are only two genders of male and female. The chromosomal XY configuration you site would be considered a disorder... and that was they only classification I could find for it.

And for centuries the sexes have indeed been separated when privacy was needed. So no its not unreasonable to continue. Where is my daughters "safe space"? Where is my sons?

Now if a trans-man, dressed as a woman, entered a mens changing facility, his safety is already protected by law as are his rights to be there. I could not find any stories backing your claims of beating and death. But I dont dismiss them. Clearly violence happens on both sides of the issue:https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/sexual-predator-jailed-after-claiming-to-be-transgender-in-order-to-assault

Lets hope common sense prevails... because I still believe the majority have it when facing fact rather than feelings.

Fanny ChmelarApr 1, 2016

View quoted thread

Fact: There are only two human genders. One being male and the other female. That is biology. Beyond that, psychology attempts to introduce all sorts of gender orientations.... but these dont trump biology... or DNA, or reality.

It is not discriminatory, nor unreasonable to require a person using a multi-occupancy bathroom, shower or changing facility to use the one of their biological gender. NOTHING.

And we are talking about less than 1/2 of 1% of the total population in the world... so just perhaps THEY can be tolerant and respect the wishes of the remaining 99%. They probably wont be....

— Posted by Max Smirenny

Sure, but how is gender defined? Research has found similarities between transgender women's brains and cisgender women's brains. Some people with XY chromosomes have female reproductive parts... so, how is gender determined?

Is is unreasonable to send someone who identifies as male into a women's restroom. Think someone tatted up and with a beard is going to be safe in a women's restroom? This isn't a hypothetical like the "well, what if a man just puts on a dress". People are beaten trying to relieve themselves. Some have been killed just for looking "funny". That's the something that is unreasonable.

The majority doesn't dictate the rights of a minority, at least the last time I checked the Constitution.

Regarding the actual issue - Title IX - we're going to have to wait to see how the VA case plays out. Regardless of the outcome, this issue is going to take many years to sort out. Liberty usually wins over irrational fears...

Victoria ClarkApr 1, 2016

I do not want a man in the bathroom with me. Please people get a unisex bathroom. I still believe in moral values not pop cultural. Men in the bathroom with me other than my husband is invading my privacy. A women and girls bathrooms should be have to accommodate a man who would like to be female. Whats makes these guys think some woman will not pepper spray him in our bathroom.

Max SmirennyApr 1, 2016

View quoted thread

Your rambling, convoluted summation is more than enough to let us know that the answer is "no".

— Posted by Will Sonnett

My wife said the same.... but I do love good facts to back up my claims. Some folks just cant hear the "no".

Will SonnettApr 1, 2016

Your rambling, convoluted summation is more than enough to let us know that the answer is "no".

Max SmirennyMar 31, 2016

Fact: There are only two human genders. One being male and the other female. That is biology. Beyond that, psychology attempts to introduce all sorts of gender orientations.... but these dont trump biology... or DNA, or reality.

It is not discriminatory, nor unreasonable to require a person using a multi-occupancy bathroom, shower or changing facility to use the one of their biological gender. NOTHING.

And we are talking about less than 1/2 of 1% of the total population in the world... so just perhaps THEY can be tolerant and respect the wishes of the remaining 99%. They probably wont be....